“My brothers, cousins and I sold lemonade and brownies at our garage sale,” Emily said proudly. “Some people just randomly donated money without buying anything once they found out what I was doing.”

“I was extremely proud to know that at a young age, she wanted to help others,” said Jamie Bocketti, coordinator of Albany Med’s pediatric surgery practice.

Emily would like her donation, one of many community-based fundraisers for the Children's Hospital, to pay for “medicine or surgery that kids need, or maybe to hire the dogs that make kids happy.”

As the Lifeline Campaign continues, the generous spirit displayed by Emily allows Albany Med to continue its mission to care for the health needs of northeastern New York, southern Vermont and western Massachusetts. She already has plans for her next fundraiser — this time to help with pediatric cancer research.

“Her ideas really make me hopeful that she can make a difference in the world,” her mother said.